Tempe board denies appeal in abatement case for 321 East Beatric Street

The Tempe Board of Adjustments voted to deny an appeal of a code-abatement decision for the Kelly residence at 321 East Beatric Street, the board said Wednesday night, leaving the property owner with a 30-day window to bring the yard into compliance before the city may contract for abatement.

Appellant Keith Kelly, who identified himself as the homeowner, told the board his family has owned the house since 1960 and described allowing two people to stay temporarily in his backyard after a nearby county encampment was cleared. He said the guests accumulated large amounts of material and personal property in the yard and that he has been cleaning the site himself when he can. "I want to continue what I'm doing until the place is the way it used to be," Kelly said.

City staff reviewed the enforcement record and municipal code sections the case rests on. Robert Manolo, senior…